Introduction

As Discalced Carmelites we are a family of men and women, both religious and lay, situated in many countries of the world. A deep friendship with Jesus Christ is the foundation and inspiration of our lives. Our vocation is truly Marian: like her we are called daily to ponder Jesus in our hearts. We the daughters and sons of St Teresa of Jesus, strive to live in the presence of God and to serve the Church.

“Friar” derives from the French frère which in turn comes from the Latin frater meaning “brother”. Those of us called to this way of life see the way of brotherhood as our way of fruitfully living out our baptismal vows. Communities of Friars are comprised of both priests and lay brothers living together for fraternal support.

Our roots go back to the twelfth - century hermits who lived on Mt Carmel, but it was St Teresa of Jesus who established the Discalced Carmelite way of life in 1562 at Avila in Spain. St John of the Cross and Anthony of Jesus began the first house of the Discalced Carmelite Friars nearby at Duruelo in 1568. The Discalced Carmelite Friars came to Australia in 1948 and established the first community in Brisbane.

Regional Vicariate

The Discalced Carmelite friars in Australia are organised into a Regional Vicariate. This means we have a juridical affiliation to the Anglo-Irish Province. The leadership team for the Region is comprised of a Regional Vicar and two councillors.